Michele Figliuzzi, Amerigo Giudice, Francesco Guido Mangano and Leonzio Fortunato
Background: Today, modern cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) acquisition and three-dimensional (3D) image processing, combined with the direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process, allows the production of custom-made, rootanalogue implants (RAIs).
Purpose: The aim of the present report was to demonstrate how DMLS technology allows the production of a customized titanium RAI, which can be immediately inserted and restored in a fresh extraction socket of the anterior maxilla.
Materials and methods: A customized DMLS titanium RAI, perfect copy of the radicular unit needed for replacement was fabricated and inserted into a fresh extraction socket of the esthetic area of the anterior maxilla.
Results: After 1 year of follow-up, the DMLS RAI implant showed a satisfactory functional and esthetic integration, with no bone resorption or soft tissue recessions.
Conclusions: The production of customized DMLS RAIs opens new interesting perspectives for immediate implantation.
